Coatesville boys tops again

Staff Photo By Vinny Tennis
Kennett's CJ Lowe, center celebrates his win with a time of 11.02 seconds in the 100 meter dash during the Ches-Mont Track and Field Championships in Coatesville on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Lowe is flanked by Coatesville's Shaquille Thomas, right, and Jay Stocker, left., 2nd and third respectively.

CALN – It’s gotten to a point where it’s easier for poachers to smuggle ivory out of Kenya than it is for a team to leave Coatesville High’s stadium with the team championship trophy at the conclusion of the Ches-Mont League Boys Track and Field Championships.

The last time a boys track and field team other than Coatesville placed first in the Ches-Mont League meet, the freshmen on this year’s Red Raiders squad were toddlers.

On Wednesday, Coatesville repeated as team champion at the 35th championships -- just as it has done every year since 2003. The next four spots in the team standings belonged to Downingtown East, Kennett, Unionville and West Chester East.

The Red Raiders finished first in a lot of events. Austin Shank won the gold medal in the 200 at 22.26. William Royal won gold in the triple jump at 45-4 and took silver in long jump at 22-3.5. Mike Boykins was first in shot put at 49-7. Darrik Muroski was gold medalist in discus at 160-7. Rahjeir Miles took first in javelin at 178-11. Elizae McDonald won the gold medal in high jump at 6-8. And, the Red Raiders crossed first in the 4x100 at 42.23 and the 4x400 at 3:21.99.

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“Long jump and triple jump were good distances for me,” said Royal. “I can do better in triple jump if I hold my phases longer. My first phase was good but my second phase needs work. In the 4x400, we wanted to close the meet with a bang.”

Shank said, “I did exactly what I was told to do. My coach told me to keep the 200 title in the house. Last year, Kevin Smith won it. I had a good race.”

Other top finishers for Coatesville were Shaquille Thomas, who was second in the 100 at 11.11 and third in long jump at 22-0; Dylan Morgan, who was second in discus at 155-0 and third in shot put at 47-2; Jay Stocker, who was third in the 100 at 11.39; Daquan Worley who was seventh in the 100 at 11.54; and Detrick Kimbrough, who tied for third in high jump at 6-2.

Kennett’s CJ Lowe came through with a gold medal in the 100 with a time of 11.02 and a silver medal in the 200 with a clocking of 22.74.

“I had a terrible start in the 100 but then my speed came through,” said Lowe.”By the time the 200 finals came around, I had already run five races and I was tired. Shank’s long stride got me. I didn’t realize he was so tall.”

Downingtown East’s Billy Caldwell and Mike Auer went one-two in the 800 with Caldwell first at 1:56.60 and Auer second at 1:58.39. They also teamed with Thomas Fitzgerald and Liam McLaughlin to win the gold medal in the 4x800 at 8:01.30.

“I got a little boxed in on the first lap,” said Caldwell. “I wanted to sit behind the leaders and wait until 300 to go. So, I was back with a lot of people. Then, I broke out with 300 to go and didn’t feel anyone behind me. It was a nice tune-up before districts.”

Their teammate J’von Jennings swept the hurdles with a win in the 100s at 14.90 and a victory in the 300s at 39.68. East’s Milton Hearns won the gold medal in long jump at 2-7.5 and was seventh in triple jump at 41-5.25.

The distance event gold medals belonged to West Chester Henderson with Reiny Barchet winning the 1,600 at 4:24.70 and Kevin Moy crossing first in the 3,200 at 9:34.12.

“I just wanted to go out at a good pace and finish well,” said Moy. “I was around fourth or fifth at the halfway point. With 800 to go, I started passing people and then moved into first place with 300 left.”

Other gold medalists at Wednesday’s meet were Downingtown West’s Andrew Galen in pole vault (11-0) and Unionville’s Brian Cortese in the 400 (50.86).